PCSC is a nonprofit that inspires young athletes to develop competitive level soccer skills in a supportive and rewarding community environment that emphasizes enjoyment, respect and sportsmanship to foster their physical, mental and social growth.

Park City Soccer Club is a nonprofit organization that exists to inspire young athletes to develop competitive level soccer skills in a supportive and rewarding community environment that emphasizes enjoyment, respect and sportsmanship to foster their physical, mental and social growth.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,
we are very excited to welcome Eli Ulvi to the Park City Soccer Club family as our new Director of Coaching.

Eli comes to PCSC with over 17 years of experience in coaching, leadership, and management positions that include stints as Technical Director at Alaska Youth Soccer Association and as an assistant coach for Portland Timbers Pre-Academy. Eli currently serves as the Technical Director for Alaska Rush Soccer Club, an ODP Region IV coach, and is a USSF D License Instructor. Eli has achieved considerable success coaching soccer and futsal at all ages and levels of competition, including recreational, competitive, high school, and collegiate soccer programs. He has also coached multiple state championship youth teams, a Region IV championship team, and served as an assistant coach for a semi-professional women’s team.

We are fortunate to have attracted such a highly qualified, USSF A licensed, professional who joins us with existing connections at the UYSA state level. Eli’s intense professional drive for club success is grounded in extensive knowledge of the beautiful game and research into youth development. He employs a positive coaching approach to engage players, families, coaches, and community, as he works with his staff to produce successful teams. He brings a proven track record of improving the club he leads through a holistic approach to preparing players for success on the field and in life. What you won’t find on Eli’s resume, but is equally impressive, is his amiable nature and dedication to principles, which made him stand out from the first meeting. He is straight forward, easy to engage, and possesses an ability to interface with people from many walks of life.

It has been a lengthy and diligent search to identify the candidate who would be the best match for our club and community. The DOC Search Committee, comprised of board members, a representative of the coaching staff, and our Executive Director, was formed in August and began screening applicants for leadership qualifications aligned with our club mission statement. It was also important to identify someone with the highest level coaching licenses, experience building youth soccer clubs, a philosophy focused on the development of whole child, and an extensive background in youth soccer. Eli distinguished himself in all these areas.

The original candidate pool of 150 applicants was ranked and the top 25 candidates were then engaged in a telephone interview with two or more committee members asking a set of standardized questions. From there, the candidates were again evaluated and ranked by the committee. Five outstanding candidates, one from Utah, prepared presentations to the full board outlining their coaching and management philosophies, including a proposed action plan as the new DOC. After this process, two candidates stood out and they were both invited to Park City to meet with our full board, representatives from our membership, and the coaching staff. Both candidates attended a team manager’s dinner, a board breakfast, training sessions, a coaches’ meeting, toured training facilities, and explored the local community. After these visits, the Board utilized feedback from our stakeholders to make their final selection.

Eli begins his employment as PCSC’s Director of Coaching on February 5th from his home in Alaska, and will travel to Utah later in the month to participate in our Annual General Meeting. He will move to Park City with his wife, Dawn, and three young daughters shortly thereafter.

Please feel free to contact any member of the Board of Directors or Shelley Gillwald, our Executive Director, if you have any specific questions about Eli or the search process. We hope to see you at our Annual General Meeting on the evening of February 28th to meet Eli in person. Details on the AGM will be announced this coming week.

* Does your player have a younger sibling at home?
* Has your neighbor or co-worker been asking how to get their child involved with soccer?
* Help spread the word! Registration for our Spring Youth Academy for players ages 6 - 10* is now open!

PCSC is offering both girls and boys specific Academy sessions for players between the ages of 6 and 10 years old.* Led by professional coaches, the primary goals of PCSC Youth Academy are teaching the game of soccer in a fun environment, facilitating a love for the game, and promoting the development of basic skills.

Players may sign up for either a 10 week Wednesday program, which begins February 28, or an 8 week Friday session, which begins March 16. Sessions begin at the Basin Rec Fieldhouse and will move outdoors later in the spring.

The Academy curriculum is designed to allow players to join at any time during a session and the Academy is scheduled, when possible, to complement spring Rec League soccer. By enrolling in the Academy at the same time as Rec soccer, players may work on their technical development during Academy sessions and still experience the fun of game play throughout the league season.